Greg Vanney had the first scoring chance for the Rapids in the third minute but his right-footed shot from 30 yards out went over the DC goal.

Bouna Coundoul made his first save of the game in the seventh minute when he easily corralled a Christian Gomez header off of a free kick.

In the eighth minute Niko Hernandez split two United defenders on the right side and sent in a ball that was just out of the reach of a streaking Colin Clark. The Fort Collins native made his first appearance of the season for the Rapids tonight.

In the ninth minute it was Clark giving the service this time to Peterson. The Indiana product headed the ball but DC goalie Troy Perkins saved the shot that was going to the upper corner of the goal.

An early injury to Guy-Roland Kpene forced DC to make a 12th minute substitution as Nicholas Addlery came on for the striker who strained his left hamstring.

Perkins needed to make another save in the 15th minute when he dove to stop a 25-yard volley from Terry Cooke.

Peterson had another scoring chance in the 18th minute. Vanney struck a free kick from near the midfield line that Hernandez flicked to Peterson. The second year professional brought the ball down but Perkins charged out to take in the shot.

All of the hard work paid off for Peterson just a minute later. Clark switched a ball from the left to the right side of the field to Cooke. The 2006 MLS assist champ found the head of Peterson who put the ball to the back post out of the reach of Perkins.

The goal was the first this season for Peterson and broke a 276-minute scoreless drought for Colorado. The Rapids' last goal was Jose Cancela’s penalty kick against the Houston Dynamo on June 7.

Colorado was also forced to make an early substitution when former DC United player Mike Petke went down with an injury in the 29th minute. Chris Wingert came on in place of the veteran defender and Vanney moved to the center of backline. Petke possibly fractured his left ankle; x-rays were to be performed after the game to determine the extent of the injury.

DC United was awarded a penalty kick in the 33rd minute when Vanney was judged to have handled the ball inside the penalty area. Christian Gomez stepped up and put the ball just out of the reach of a diving Coundoul.

Clyde Simms' shot in the 42nd minute from 20 yards out was easily stopped by Coundoul who didn’t have to move to make the save.

Peterson hit the outside of the side netting in the 44th minute. Another Hernandez flick fell to the speedster’s feet. Peterson went around two men but was forced too far wide by Perkins to get his shot on goal.

Addlery made a dangerous run in the 58th minute taking the ball from the midfield stripe to the top of Colorado’s penalty area but his shot went well wide of Coundoul’s net.

Justin Moose lifted a ball over the Colorado backline to Luciano Emilio in the 61st minute but the Brazilian’s shot went wide.

Addlery put DC ahead in the 71st minute when he headed in a corner kick from Fred. Earlier that minute Stephen Keel made his professional debut for the Rapids coming on for Pablo Mastroeni.

Cooke had an opportunity to equalize in the 74th minute but Perkins came off his line to get to the Peterson cross just before the Englishman kicked the ball.

In the 77th minute the game was suspended due to lightning and after a 28 minute delay the game restarted. Roberto Brown came into the match for Daniel Wasson to give the Rapids more options in the attack.

In the 80th minute Clark received a cross from Peterson but his effort from the top of the penalty area hit the outside of the goal.

Fred put United up by two goals in the 82nd minute when he took a pass from Addlery and snuck the ball under an onrushing Coundoul.

With the Rapids pushing to get back in the game Emilio scored DC’s fourth goal with a bounce off the goal post.

The Rapids will remain on the road as they travel to Chicago to take on the Fire this Sunday July 1 at 5 p.m. MT at Toyota Park. The game will be broadcast live on Altitude Sports and Entertainment.